１９　 O-seibo,Nenga-jyo(お歳暮・年賀状、クリスマス)：

＊Most typical of Japan’s many customary gifts are the chugen and seibo gifts. The chugen (mid-year) gift often serves instead of the greeting in the hot summer months to inquire after the health and well-being of friends and work associates, and the seibo (year-end) gift stems from the custom of giving someone a gift as a token of gratitude for everything he has done for you during the past year.

　　 Nenga-jyo：The post office stocks New Year's cards mailed in late December and delivers them during the first days of the year. Many people use special nenga-jyo issued by the Post and Telecommunication Company and printed with lottery numbers.
　　Christmas in Japan has a unique atmosphere that perfectly combines tradition and newness. While incorporating Western Christmas culture, such as the illumination of street trees and the custom of enjoying cake and chicken dishes, the heartwarming customs of Japan, which value family gatherings, remain strong.　　　　　　(To be continued)